Celebration 5
My neighbor Joyce Dorsett.
When I was just 13 years old, my neighbor Joyce seen in me a responsible, caring, and nurturing girl.
Our families were always close. Her toddler Drew, spent a lot of hours at our house. He was such a joy to be around and we looked forward to his visits. Then, along came his little sister Devin. She was perfect and made that sweet family complete. Joyce asked that I babysit those sweet children and to my surprise my parents agreed. I can still remember her husband, Bobby, sitting down with me giving me instructions, pouring his heart out about how much those kiddos meant to him, and making sure I knew the responsibilities that were required.
I'm thankful for those times with the Dorsett kids. They taught me so much in my young life. While others my age were riding mopeds, spending their days poolside, or fighting with their siblings....I was being needed and wanted by two sweet souls. I learned about money. I learned about patience. I learned about time management. I learned how to calm a crying baby. I learned how to entertain a crazy 2 year old boy.
Joyce and Bobby made it easy. I watched them love each other, I watched them love their kids and I followed their example. I watched them closely. I wanted to learn how to parent, how to love and treat your spouse, how to take time for each other even with the chaos of parenting, and how to have fun as a family.
Looking back, I can't believe they entrusted me with such a mission, but I'm so thankful they did. They taught me the importance of family. In their honor, I'm preparing a meal for a family that just added a second daughter to their home just days ago.
Friday, May 27, 2016
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Celebration 4 Mandi Mayden Dersch
Celebration 4
My childhood friend Mandi Mayden.
We were inseparable. We wore matching clothes. We would wear our hair the same way. We talked about boys. We sang at the top of our lungs to all the boys to men songs. We were best friends. We loved each other one day, hated each other the next. If she wasn't at my house, I was at hers. All my Jr. high yearbooks she wrote that we would be best friends forever..........then life happens.
Today I'm sorry to type that she is not even one of my facebook friends. I did try to add her, but only because I knew she would be one of the people I wanted to celebrate. Our lives just went separate ways. I don't know of any one reason that it did, at least nothing that I'm aware of, it just happened. It's strange to me to see her in public nowadays and not even a hello is passed between us, when we used to finish each other sentences.
She married. I married. She became a mother. I became a mother. Jobs. School. Just Life Happened.
Most of my memories with her includes adventure. We stuck out of houses to be with boyfriends. We drove around so we could smoke cigarettes. We spied on cheating boyfriends. We went skinny dipping. We made prank calls. We toilet papered neighbors. We were a little mischievous. We only did a few things that were illegal.
Maybe that's why we distant ourselves. Both of us remember those times and those memories and choose to be a different person. Our only identity we have with each other is the past mistakes, past dreams we had for our future, and past disappointments.
I don't know.
I do know what she taught me in our friendship. Always follow your dreams. Since she was little, she dreamed of being a nurse. She would study for numerous hours. She would go to school as time and money allowed. She finally became a nurse after years of waiting. If she is anything like the friend I had in Jr. High, I KNOW she is awesome. She has a compassionate spirit, a crazy sense of humor, and a beautiful smile that can calm the storm. In her honor, I made a special delivery to two people that are outstanding Nurses.
My childhood friend Mandi Mayden.
We were inseparable. We wore matching clothes. We would wear our hair the same way. We talked about boys. We sang at the top of our lungs to all the boys to men songs. We were best friends. We loved each other one day, hated each other the next. If she wasn't at my house, I was at hers. All my Jr. high yearbooks she wrote that we would be best friends forever..........then life happens.
Today I'm sorry to type that she is not even one of my facebook friends. I did try to add her, but only because I knew she would be one of the people I wanted to celebrate. Our lives just went separate ways. I don't know of any one reason that it did, at least nothing that I'm aware of, it just happened. It's strange to me to see her in public nowadays and not even a hello is passed between us, when we used to finish each other sentences.
She married. I married. She became a mother. I became a mother. Jobs. School. Just Life Happened.
Most of my memories with her includes adventure. We stuck out of houses to be with boyfriends. We drove around so we could smoke cigarettes. We spied on cheating boyfriends. We went skinny dipping. We made prank calls. We toilet papered neighbors. We were a little mischievous. We only did a few things that were illegal.
Maybe that's why we distant ourselves. Both of us remember those times and those memories and choose to be a different person. Our only identity we have with each other is the past mistakes, past dreams we had for our future, and past disappointments.
I don't know.
I do know what she taught me in our friendship. Always follow your dreams. Since she was little, she dreamed of being a nurse. She would study for numerous hours. She would go to school as time and money allowed. She finally became a nurse after years of waiting. If she is anything like the friend I had in Jr. High, I KNOW she is awesome. She has a compassionate spirit, a crazy sense of humor, and a beautiful smile that can calm the storm. In her honor, I made a special delivery to two people that are outstanding Nurses.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Celebration 3 John Passmore
Celebration 3
My brother John Passmore.
John is a hard fellow to figure out! Growing up I didn't so much like him. He was the typical big brother....making fun of me, calling me names, locking me in closets while humming the Jaws theme song. I still will not get in the ocean for fear of sharks! He secluded himself from me probably because I was his annoying younger sister.
Age does something to you. Makes you more appreciative of family. Makes you become more "chill". Makes you see relationships in a different perspective.
This is what I see in my brother.
He is a hard worker! There have been countless people who come up to me and tell me how he has taken care of them. I know he has delivered gravel, cleaned snow off of driveways, plowed gardens with his tractor. He usually just shows up willing to give you a helping hand. No money, no glory, just a loving servant.
He is a good dad. You go to a ballgame, you see John. Dance recitals, you see John. Track meets, you see John. Choir concerts, you see John. He is the ever present father figure not only to his kids, but also to many others.
He is proud of his community. He expects the best in everyone. He wants the younger generation to have role models to look up to. He wants children to be disciplined is their speech, actions, and attitude. He wants the older generations to take pride in our youth. Be supportive. Be present. He volunteers his time for the future of Mitchell. He has coached several young boys and girls in all sports and all ages. He is proud of our little town and continues to give back his talent, his money, and his time.
He has taught me the importance of community. In his honor, I picked up all the trash around the high school baseball field.
My brother John Passmore.
John is a hard fellow to figure out! Growing up I didn't so much like him. He was the typical big brother....making fun of me, calling me names, locking me in closets while humming the Jaws theme song. I still will not get in the ocean for fear of sharks! He secluded himself from me probably because I was his annoying younger sister.
Age does something to you. Makes you more appreciative of family. Makes you become more "chill". Makes you see relationships in a different perspective.
This is what I see in my brother.
He is a hard worker! There have been countless people who come up to me and tell me how he has taken care of them. I know he has delivered gravel, cleaned snow off of driveways, plowed gardens with his tractor. He usually just shows up willing to give you a helping hand. No money, no glory, just a loving servant.
He is a good dad. You go to a ballgame, you see John. Dance recitals, you see John. Track meets, you see John. Choir concerts, you see John. He is the ever present father figure not only to his kids, but also to many others.
He is proud of his community. He expects the best in everyone. He wants the younger generation to have role models to look up to. He wants children to be disciplined is their speech, actions, and attitude. He wants the older generations to take pride in our youth. Be supportive. Be present. He volunteers his time for the future of Mitchell. He has coached several young boys and girls in all sports and all ages. He is proud of our little town and continues to give back his talent, his money, and his time.
He has taught me the importance of community. In his honor, I picked up all the trash around the high school baseball field.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Celebration 2 Jamie Briscoe
Celebration 2
My sister Jamie.
Some wouldn't believe the stories I could tell from our childhood knowing the beautiful, thoughtful, and quiet person she is today.
SHE IS A PROTECTOR. She protected both my brother and I, in the earlier days of my life from the neighborhood bully.....she truly punched him and he never bothered our family again. In my teenage days, she tried to protect me from breakups with boys and squabbles with friends. Later in my early 20's she pleaded with me to choose a different life style that she knew was disastrous. I've never told her that she was the reason I left that life and turned my eyes towards Jesus and his everlasting love for me. Thank you for that!
SHE IS MY ADVISER. Ask my husband, when I first had Lily I wouldn't do ANYTHING without calling her first. She is one of the first calls I make if making a hard decision, struggling with life, or if I need someone to be my cheerleader. She has always given me hard loving truth and I'm appreciative of that.
SHE IS MY HELPER. She has helped me wallpaper, remove wallpaper, paint, paint, paint, paint some more! Babysat Lily when she was little so I could work. Helped me love music and dance, I have learned to love reading because she would always read to me when I was little. I can still remember word for word "Cat, you need a Hat!" She has saved me time and time again when it comes to art shows and science fairs. That basement isn't full of stuff for no reason :)
She has taught me unselfish love. In her honor today, I paid for a girls dance lessons for one month.
My sister Jamie.
Some wouldn't believe the stories I could tell from our childhood knowing the beautiful, thoughtful, and quiet person she is today.
SHE IS A PROTECTOR. She protected both my brother and I, in the earlier days of my life from the neighborhood bully.....she truly punched him and he never bothered our family again. In my teenage days, she tried to protect me from breakups with boys and squabbles with friends. Later in my early 20's she pleaded with me to choose a different life style that she knew was disastrous. I've never told her that she was the reason I left that life and turned my eyes towards Jesus and his everlasting love for me. Thank you for that!
SHE IS MY ADVISER. Ask my husband, when I first had Lily I wouldn't do ANYTHING without calling her first. She is one of the first calls I make if making a hard decision, struggling with life, or if I need someone to be my cheerleader. She has always given me hard loving truth and I'm appreciative of that.
SHE IS MY HELPER. She has helped me wallpaper, remove wallpaper, paint, paint, paint, paint some more! Babysat Lily when she was little so I could work. Helped me love music and dance, I have learned to love reading because she would always read to me when I was little. I can still remember word for word "Cat, you need a Hat!" She has saved me time and time again when it comes to art shows and science fairs. That basement isn't full of stuff for no reason :)
She has taught me unselfish love. In her honor today, I paid for a girls dance lessons for one month.
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